May 17, 2016

World powers express support for faltering Syrian truce

BBC News reports world powers have agreed to try to turn the crumbling partial truce in Syria into a more comprehensive ceasefire. The International Syria Support Group (ISSG) warned that the unravelling of the 11-week cessation of hostilities could lead to a return to all-out war. Those persistently breaching the truce could be excluded from it. The ISSG also said that from June the UN would begin air drops of aid for all areas in need if ground access to besieged areas continued to be denied. Diplomats want to encourage the opposition to resume indirect negotiations on a political settlement to end the five-year conflict, which has killed more than 250,000 people.